The Ministry of the Interior (IeM) has proposed extending the enhanced border security regime along Latvia’s border with Belarus until the 30th of June, 2027, according to documents prepared by the ministry for the government.
The enhanced border security regime is currently in force until the end of this year. It applies to Ludza and the parishes of Ludza Municipality, Krāslava and the parishes of Krāslava Municipality, Augšdaugava Municipality, Daugavpils and Kaunata Parish in Rēzekne Municipality.
The Interior Ministry emphasises that pressure from illegal migration along the Latvian-Belarusian border remains high. At the same time, the methods used to instrumentalise migration are changing, with increasingly new tactics being employed to undermine the integrity of the state border.
Although border security infrastructure has been constructed along this section of the border, incidents of deliberate damage continue to be recorded, including damage to video surveillance equipment and electrical distribution cabinets.
Cases have also been identified in which tunnels have been used to cross the state border illegally.
Furthermore, aggressive behaviour towards officials involved in border protection has also been observed, the ministry explained in justifying its proposal to extend the enhanced border security regime.
According to the ministry, these circumstances indicate that deliberate provocations and hybrid threats along the border are likely to continue, with illegal migration being used as a tool to exert pressure on Latvia and, simultaneously, on the external borders of the European Union and NATO.
The Interior Ministry also stresses the importance of considering the broader regional security situation, including publicly reported threats of possible provocations and sabotage along the Polish-Russian border, which have prompted Poland to introduce additional security measures.
It is therefore essential to ensure coordinated and mutually aligned action among countries in the region to maintain comparable levels of border protection along their borders with Belarus, the ministry explained.
As previously reported by the LETA news agency, a total of 12,857 people had been prevented from illegally crossing the Latvian-Belarusian border this year as of the 10th of November.
Last year, 12,046 people were prevented from crossing the border illegally, while 31 irregular migrants were allowed to enter Latvia on humanitarian grounds.
In 2024, a total of 5,388 people were prevented from illegally crossing the Belarusian-Latvian border, while 26 people were admitted to the country on humanitarian grounds.
In 2023, border guards prevented 13,863 people from crossing illegally, while 428 people were admitted for humanitarian reasons.
In 2022, a total of 5,286 people were prevented from crossing the border illegally, while 217 people were allowed to enter on humanitarian grounds.
Latvia has faced pressure from illegal migration organised by Belarus since August 2021.